Question detail
Why can crude oil run out even though it is found underground in rocks?
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
MCQ
Type
practice
Style
Topic
Carbon compounds as fuels and feedstock
Question
- A. The supply is finite and extraction can be faster than formation
- B. Rocks destroy crude oil as soon as it forms
- C. Crude oil changes into oxygen when exposed to air
- D. Every fraction evaporates before it can be used
Answer
The correct option is The supply is finite and extraction can be faster than formation. Crude oil can run out because it is a finite store in rocks and is used far faster than it naturally forms.
Explanation
The correct option is The supply is finite and extraction can be faster than formation. The correct answer focuses on resource availability, not formula recall. Crude oil is trapped in rock formations, but the amount available is limited. It takes millions of years to form from ancient biomass, while extraction and use happen much more quickly. The other options invent processes that are not part of the AQA organic chemistry explanation.
Common mistake
Finite resource misconception
Students think crude oil can be replenished quickly because it is a liquid that can be pumped out of the ground.
Explain that crude oil is a finite resource formed over millions of years from ancient biomass and cannot be replenished on a human timescale.
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